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Ever wondered how K9's are selected?

Trainers look for a specific blend of traits suited for surprise scenario work.

Here’s a breakdown of these 5 traits—and how to set your dog up for success by seeing the world through their eyes.

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If you’ve ever felt frustrated trying to train your dog using a method that worked for other Malinois, Dutchies, or GSDs—you’re not alone.

They may have similar paint jobs, but they’re probably running different software.

Our job is to always set them up for success.

Success starts with understanding how they’re programmed.

Once you do, you can out-think them instead of competing with them—making compliance feel like their idea.

Aki taught me this the hard way—train the dog in front of you, not the one you envisioned.

Let’s just say he takes a lot more work (and patience) to reach a baseline I took for granted in my last Malinois rescue, Lexi.

The best way to train any dog is to teach them how to manipulate the environment to get what they want.

Figuring out what they want starts with understanding their temperament.

The result of nature and nurture…

Here’s everything I wish I knew about temperament.

Puppies vs Green Dogs

If you’re set on getting a puppy, choose a reputable breeder with dogs that have proven workability.

Take puppy temperament tests with a grain of salt. Instead, trust the breeder’s experience in matching you with the right pup.

But even then? Some puppies wash out—they won’t become the working or sport dog you envisioned. Reputable breeders have return-to-breeder clauses under specific circumstances, but giving back a dog is never easy.

If you don’t want to roll the dice, consider a green dog from a reputable vendor.

They’re old enough (10 months - 2.5 years) to have their temperament assessed but haven’t gone through any specialized training.

🛑 But watch out. Some breeders and vendors make their dogs look good in familiar environments, masking deeper temperament flaws.

They’ll often blame any issues on the handler’s lack of socialization. And while that can play a role, the truth is—genetics set the foundation for temperament.

⚠️ Predicting temperament isn’t an exact science…

But observing these five traits once they’re a green dog, offers the best clues.👇️ 

🧬🐕‍🦺 5 Traits of Temperament

1️⃣ Sociability

Sociability: How a dog interacts with strangers.

• Social: Eager to greet strangers

• Neutral: Ignores strangers

• Unsocial: Doesn’t approach strangers and doesn’t allow them to approach

2️⃣ Nerves

Nerves: How adaptable a dog is to change in environments or social situations.

• Confident: Doesn’t hesitate in new situations

• Adaptable: Slightly hesitant in new situations but can overcome it on their own quickly

• Cautious: Concerned in new situations and requires extensive training effort leveraging their drives to adapt

• Unadaptable: Can’t function the same in unfamiliar situations, no matter how much training effort

• Anxious: Shuts down entirely, anxiety becomes worse with training effort

💡 The weaker a dog’s nerves, the less their drives influence temperament. The stronger their drives, the easier they adapt and even learn to enjoy new changes.

3️⃣ Drives

Drives: What naturally motivates a dog.

• Prey Drive: Desire to search, stalk, chase, bite, dissect, and consume prey

• Food Drive: Desire to eat

• Defense Drive: Instinct to defend themselves, resources, pack, or territory against perceived threats through fight or flight

• Pack Drive: Desire for verbal praise or tactile stimulation from a person they have a relationship with

📊 Drive Threshold: How easily (low to high) a dog is triggered into prey or defense drive.

• Low defense threshold dogs are known as “sharp dogs” since they’re sensitive to perceived threats

‼️ Drive Intensity: How much energy (low to high) they have once engaged in prey or defense drive.

4️⃣ Hardness

Hardness: How resilient a dog is after adverse experiences (aka pain tolerance).

• Soft: Reacts submissively or becomes upset after a mild correction

• Hard: Unfazed after a stout correction

5️⃣ Focus

Focus: How dogs respond to the environment versus their handler.

• Environmentally-focused: Responds to distractions more than their handler

• Handler-focused: Unfazed by distractions and looks to their handler.

TL;DR: Set your dog up for success by understanding their temperament.

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Sam’s Picks

• IGP under attack! Sign the petition to protect bite sports. (LINK)

• Haz Othman from Shield K9 on Temperaments (LINK)

• Rescue Rocky, the 2 year-old Malinois that is great with kids. (LINK)

• Adopt sweet Kandy Cane. She’s the perfect Malinois for a first-time owner. (LINK)

• Rescue Blackjack, the 14 month old Malinois Mix in San Luis Obispo County. (LINK)

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